11/26/96

CONTACT: Michael Finney, ILGARD, 614/593-4389

ATHENS, Ohio -- As deer hunters in blaze orange descend on some 85 state wildlife areas in Ohio Monday (Dec. 2), many will find questionnaires on their windshields when they return from the hunt, asking them how they spend their bucks.

The Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development (ILGARD), the Ohio Division of Wildlife and professors of economics at Ohio University are studying how Ohio's wildlife areas are used and how the areas affect local economies.

"Wildlife areas create a fairly significant economic impact on local economies," said Khosrow Doroodian, an Ohio University professor of economics who will analyze the surveys once the study is completed in April.

The gun season for deer opens in 67 counties Monday, running Dec. 2-7 and Dec. 9-14. About 20,000 surveys will be distributed at 23 wildlife areas, including Waterloo, Cooper Hollow and Wellston wildlife areas in Southeast Ohio.

Each Ohio deer hunter this year is expected to spend an average of $380 on hunting equipment, clothing, transportation, fuel, food, lodging and other items directly related to deer hunting, according to John Wisse, spokesman for the Division of Wildlife. Last year, a record 179,643 deer were killed during the gun, archery and primitive deer seasons, Wisse said.

The surveys will also determine other uses for the wildlife areas, such as bird watching, photography, mushroom hunting and fishing, Wisse said.